Machinery for making laps



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented May 28, 1889.

Invenhr:

(No Model.)

W. H. PALMER, Jr.

MAGHINERY FOR MAKING LAPS. No. 404,106.

N. PETERS, PhotwLimagraphsr, Wahinmon, ac,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. H. PALMER, Jr.

MACHINERY FOR MAKING LAPS. No. 404,106. Patented May 28, 1889.

N. PETER Phawumo m nu, wnmn tcn. D (L (No Model.)

W. H. PALMER, Jr.

3 ShetsSheet 3.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer wnhln mn, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PALMER, JR, OF NORWVICH, ASSIGNOR TO PALMER BROTHERS, OF MONTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

MACH INERY FOR MAKING LAPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,106, dated May 28, 1889. Application filed January 30, 1888. $erial No. 262,402. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PALMER, Jr., of Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery for Making Laps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to carding machinery for producing a lap or bat of carded mate- Io rlal, as either Wool or cotton, in which a number or series of cards arranged side by side deliver their fleeces upon a traveling apron mounted on apron-rollers in an aproncarrying frame, to which a traverse motion is lmparted in a direction transverse to the progressive travel of the apron. By such an arrangement of parts the fleeces from the said cards are laid across the apron in folds overlapping each other and extending from side to side of the bat or lap, and the width of the bat or lap is fixed and determined by the length of traverse motion given the aproncarrying frame.

In carrying out my invention I usually employ two series of cards arranged with the cards of one series facing the cards of the other series, and by suitable delivery apparatussuch as two delivery-boards arranged so that one terminates and delivers opposite 0 the face of the other-I combine the fleeces from two opposite cards before they are dellvered onto the apron.

In carding machinery of the kind above described the thickness of the bat or lap pro- 5 duced may be varied by varying the speed of progressive travel imparted to the receiving-apron, the speed of delivery of the fleeces from the several cards remaining uniform, and the finished bat or lap is wound upon a 0 take-up beam or roller at the end of the aproncarrying frame.

Important objects of my invention are to secure a compact arrangement of the cards upon elevated supports, beneath which the apron-carrying frame moves in its traverse motion; also, to provide for combining the fleeces from two oppositely-arranged cards before delivery to the apron; also, to provide a simple mechanism for traversing the aproncarrying frame, and which is adjustable to vary the length of the traverse movement;

also, to provide for imparting the progressive travel to the apron during its traversing movement, and for varying the speed of such progressive travel during the operation of the 5 5 machinery, to secure the exact thickness and weight of the finished lap desired; also, to provide for imparting a uniform surface velocity to the take-up roller or beam notwithstanding its increasing size as the lap or bat is taken up and wound or rolled upon it, and to provide for at once and automatically bringing an empty take-up roll or beam into receiving position at the same time that a filled take-up roll or beam is removed from the machine.

My invention consists in novel combinations of parts, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, whereby the desired results are secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of machinery embodying my invention and comprising two series of cards facing each other, the apron-carrying frame only being in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the plane of the dotted line at m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the supports for the cards and the receiving-apron and its frame, the cards being omitted. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing portions of the receiving-apron, its frame, the supporting and driving rollers, and the bearings for the takeup roller or beam, and the card-supports and traversing mechanism for the apron-carrying frame. Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the plane of the dotted line y y, Fig. 4.; and Fig. 6 is a broken side view of the manglerack and pinion for traversing the apron-carrying frame; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are upon a larger scale than the other figures, and similar letgo ters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates cards or carding-machines of the ordinary kind, comprising a cylinder and workers, and also each having a doffer-cylin- 5 der, (t. In the illustrated example of my in vention the cards are arranged in two series, those in each series being side by side, and the cards of one series facing those of the other series, as shown in Fig. 1. I have here shown but two cards in each series; but usually there will be four or more, the machine being proportionately longer. Along the cards of each series extends a shaft, A, and the two shafts are connected by a belt, as hereinafter described. Each card A will be driven by a belt, a, as is usual, and as shown in Fig. 1, and in addition the only main belt necessary for imparting motion. to the machinery from an outside source is a belt, a running upon a pulley, a on one of the shafts A.

The cards A are supported in an elevated position by timbers or other girders, B, which aflford below them a clear space for a receiving-apron, C, which is arranged in an aproncarrying frame, 0', and which receives the fleeces from the several cards of both series. This apron O and frame 0, together with their accompanying mechanism are shown in side and plan view in Figs. 2 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

The apron C may be made of two endless chains or bands, 0, arranged parallel with each other and at a suitable distance apart, and slats or bars 0', of Wood, extend between and are secured to the chains or bands.

At or near opposite ends of the frame 0, and also intermediate of its length, are-supporting-wheels 0 running upon track-rails c and which provide for the easy traverse of the frame in a direction transverse to the direction of progressive travel of the apron 0.

Near opposite ends of the frame 0 are cross-shafts 0 C having upon them chainwheels 0, which engage and support the chains 0 of the apron O, and these shafts, with their wheels, may be considered as apron-supporting rollers. wheel, 0 with which engages a worm, 0, upon a short shaft, 0 and by motion imparted to the short shaft 0 as hereinafter described, the apron roller or shaft 0 is driven'and the apron moved in the direction of the arrows thereon. Between the apron-rollers O O the straight direct and return portions of the apron C may be supported by bearers c or rollers 0 both of which forms of support are shown in Fig. 4, and on which the chains 0 travel along.

In addition to the progressive travel of the apron Othe frame 0, and therefore the apron, must have a traverse motion in a direction transverse to the length of the apron and along the rails c beneath the girder-supports B. I have shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 6 one form of mechanism which may advantageously be employed for the purpose. Extending transversely across the frame 0 is a mangle-rack, D, which has feet or legs d at opposite ends, whereby it is supported on the sides of the frame 0, and a mangle-pinion, E, upon a short shaft, 6, and engaging therewith. The rack D comprises straight upper and lower rack portions and a pinion or shaft-guiding rib, d, and at the ends are portions D, made separate from the main portion of the rack and adjustable to lengthen or shorten the rack, and thereby to varythe length of trav- Upon the shaft 0 is a worm-' erse of the apron-frame O. The pinion-shaft e is supported by a swinging arm 6, pivoted at e to one of the supporting-girders B, and motion is imparted to the shaft 6 by suitable gearing, such as a chain, 6 passing around wheels e e on the shaft A and the shaft 6, and over suitably-arranged deflecting-wheels e 6 The adjustable end portions, D, of the mangle-rack also comprise portions d of the guiding-rib d for the pinion-shaft e, and are each secured in position by a pin, d, which may be inserted in one of several holes, d provided for it, according to the degree of adjustment of the end portion, D. portions of the end portions, D, and also the rib portions d thereof, lap upon the straight upper and lower rack portions and the rib d of the main rack D, and thus afford a continuity of the lines of teeth for engagement of the pinion E and a continuous bearing or guide for the pinion-shaft e, and as the length of the folds in which the fleeces from the cards A are delivered on the apron C is fixed by the length of the traverse movement it will be understood that the width of the finished lap or bat is varied by shifting the end portions, D, of the rack D, and thusincreasing or reducing the length of said rack and the length of traverse movement.

I will now describe how the short shaft 0 may be driven to impart a continuous progressive travel or movement to the apron during its traverse movement.

Upon the short shaft 0 is a loose pulley, f, and upon the opposite side of the apronframe 0' is -a corresponding short shaft, f, carrying a pulley, f Upon the shafts A are pulleys f and upon the supporting-girder B are idler-pulleys f. The pulleys f f f f are all in the same vertical plane, and a driving belt, F, embraces the pulleys f passes down between and over the idler-pulleys f and embraces the loose pulleyf and the pulley f The traverse motion of the frame 0 carries the pulleys ff to and fro beneath the idler-pulleys f but as the pulleys f f always remain the same distance apart the belt F of fixed length always remains taut and properly drives the pulleys To provide for Varying the speed imparted to the shaft 0 and through it to the apron C, I fiX upon the shafts f a reversed cone-pulleys f which are connected by a belt, f, as

shown best in Fig. 3. The pulley f, being loose on the shaft 0 may rotate with the uniform speed at which the beltF is driven; but

between the shafts f c the speed is varied by shifting the belt f and consequently any desired speed is given the shaft 0 If the finished lap or bat is too light, the belt f is shifted toreduce the speed of the shaft 0 and if too heavy the belt is shifted to increase the speed of said shaft 0 I The lap or bat carried forward by the apron C is wound upon a take-up roller or beam,

The 'rack G, as shown in Fig. 2, and in this example of my invention this take-up roller is at the end of the apron-frame C opposite the driving mechanism just described for the apron. As the take-up roll or beam G increases in size as the lap is wound upon it, it must be driven at a uniform surface velocity and not a uniform number of revolutions per minute.

At the delivery end of the apron-frame O are journaled two supporting drums or rollers, G which have the same surface velocity as the apron and are driven as best shown in Fig. 2, but also in Fig. l. On the shafts of the drums or rollers G are wheels g, geared together by an intermediate pinion, g, and

. through wheels g 9 the former on the shaft 0 and the latter an idler-pinion engaging one of the wheels 9, the rollers or drums G are driven from the shaft 0 of the apronroller.

The take-up roller G is journaled between and rests upon the supporting drums or rollers G. Its journals are fitted to slotted bearings, wherein they may rise as the take-up roller increases in size. The bearings are formed by fixed brackets H, having slots h, and movable brackets H, pivoted concentrically with the pinion g at h, and having opentopped slots h which form continuations of the slots h. WVhen an empty take-up roller is put in the machine its journals rest in the slots h; but as it becomes filled up and larger by the lap winding upon it its journals rise into the slots h its surface all the while resting upon the rollers or drums G. and the take-up roller being rotated at a uniform surface speed by frictional contact with said rollers or drums. \Vhen the take-up roller G is full, the brackets H are tilted forward by hand, and as they bring the slots 7&2 to a horizontal posit-ion the filled take-up roller G rolls out of them and upon a truck for receiving it.

By a very simple construction I provide for bringing an empty take-up roller into receiving position automatically at the same time that the filled take-up roller is removed. The pivoted brackets have rearwardly-extending arms II provided with inwardly-projecting flanges 72, or rests, whereon the journals of the empty roller are supported, as shown in Fig. 4, and which are turned up at the back ends to form stops h to prevent the take-up roller from rolling off them. \Vhen the brackets II are tilted forward to take out the filled take-up roller, the empty roller rolls forward and drops into the empty slots h and into position on the surfaces of the supporting and driving drums or rollers G. The attendanthas then but to wrap the severed end of the lap around the empty roller G to start the winding up of the lap or bat upon it, and this operation continues until the roller G is full.

In order to produce a lap or bat of even and full thickness even at the opposite edges I prefer to combine by a suitable delivery the fleeces delivered from the two cards A, which are opposite each other. The simple form of delivery apparatus here shown consists of two boards, I I, inclined in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 1. The board I is shorter than the board I and terminates opposite the face of the latter, so that the fleece sliding down the board I is delivered directly upon the fleece on the board I, and both slide down the lower portion of the board I together and are delivered as one fleece upon the apron O.

The two series of cardsA may be arranged very closely together, as shown, and as space is provided beneath the cards for the traversing apron-frame C a very compact arrangement of a number of cards and their receiving-apron is obtained.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with two series of cards arranged side by side and the two series facing each other, of an apron having a progressive travel past the cards, and also having a reciprocating traverse in a direction transverse to its progressive travel, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting the progressive and traverse movements to the apron, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with a series of cards arranged side by side and an elevated support for the cards, of an apron having a progressive travel past the series of cards, and also having a reciprocating traverse in a direction transverse to its progressive travel and beneath the elevated support, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting the progressive and traverse movements to the apron, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination, with two series of cards, those of each series being arranged side by side and facing those of the other series, of delivery apparatus whereby the fleeces from two opposite cards are combined, an apron having a progressive travel past the cards, and also having a reciprocating traverse in a direction transverse to its progressive movement, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for impartingto the apron both its progressive and traverse movements, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination with two series of cards, those of each series being arranged side by side and facing those of the other series, of an apron having a progressive movement past the cards, and having also a traverse movement in a direction transverse to its progressive movement, deliver boards extending downward from opposite cards and one de- 'livering against the other, whereby the fleeces from the two cards are combined before being delivered to the apron, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting both the progressive and traverse motion to the apron, substantially as herein de scribed.

5. The combination, with a series of cards arranged side by side, of an apron-carrying frame and an apron having a progressive movement therein past the series of cards, a mangle-rack and pinion-gearing for reciproeating the said frame in a direction transverse to the progressive movement of the apron, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting the progressive movement to the apron in said frame, substantially as herein described.

6. The combination, with a series of cards arranged side by side, of an apron-carrying frame having rollers and an endless apron passing around said rollers, a mangle-rack upon the frame, having adjustable portions at its end, and the pinion-guide, extensible, and having means for holding the extensible end portions in fixed position after adjustment, a mangle-pinion engaging said rack, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating it, and mechanism for operating the apron-rollers to give the apron a progressive travel, substantially as herein set forth.

7. The combination, With a series of cards arranged side by side, an apron carrying frame having rollers, and an apronhaving a progressive travel around said rollers in a direction past the series of cards, of mechanism, substantially such as described, forimparting areciprocating traverse motion to the frame in a direction tranverse to the progressive travel of the apron and for operating the apron roller or rollers, a pair of supportingrollers beyond the apron in said frame and serving to support a take-up roller, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for drivingthe supporting-rollers both in the same direction, so that they will rotate the take-up ,roller placed upon them, substantially as herein set forth. I

8. The combination, with a series of cards arranged side by side and an apron-carrying frame having rollers supporting a traveling apron for movement in a direction past the cards, of supporting-rollers beyond the apron in said frame for supporting upon them a take-up roll, mechanism,subst-antially such as described, for imparting a progressive travel to the apron and a reciprocating traverse motion to the frame and for rotating the supporting-rollers both in the same direction, the fixed slotted bearings H for the take-up roll, and the pivoted slotted bearings H, forming continuations of the slots in the fixed bearings, and having brackets H for the support of a fresh roller, which will roll into the slots of the fixed bearings when the pivoted slotted brackets are swung on their fulcrums, substantially as herein set forth.

9. The combination, with a series of cards 

